Chapter 55: Because you can’t study in the library

I wandered through the library stacks, needing to put some distance between myself and Aya. Being too close to her made my heart race uncontrollably. I pretended to be searching for textbooks and workbooks, but… I’d wandered into unfamiliar territory.

‘…Where am I?’

I looked around, the titles on the shelves completely different from what I’d expected.

First Love! 10 Tips for a Successful Relationship

What to Do When You’re Head Over Heels? Managing Your Romantic Feelings

How to Avoid Mistakes on a Date

A Guide for Dating Beginners

‘…Eeeeek?!’

I wasn’t in the social studies section; I was in the romance section. “Oh no! This is bad!”

I tried to make a quick escape, but it was too late. I’d already seen the titles, and my mind was racing. ‘I didn’t see anything… I didn’t see anything…’

I tried to act natural, but my face was burning. And then, against my will, my hand reached out, pulling a book from the shelf…

“Rina?”

“Eek?!” I fumbled with the book, dropping it with a thud. I slowly turned around to see Aya standing on the other side of the bookshelf, tilting her head slightly.

“There you are.”

“A-Aya…!” I was too startled to form a coherent sentence. How could I explain this?

“I-I was looking for a workbook, but I… I got lost…!”

“Ah.” Aya seemed to understand, picking up the fallen book and glancing at the title. Aya… bending over like that in a dress… ugh… No, wait, the title…!

First Love! 10 Tips for a Successful Relationship

“……”
“……” I stared at her, speechless, holding my breath.

Aya glanced at the title again, then chuckled softly. “…Rina.”

“Y-Yes?!”

She placed the book back on the shelf, then looked at me, her gaze gentle. “Is it… difficult to concentrate here?”

Flustered, I looked down, the ten different excuses I’d prepared dissolving into thin air. “Yes… I’m more used to studying at home…”

“Then, come to my house.”

“…?” I looked up, startled. Aya smiled calmly. “Want to study together at my house?”

“A-At your house…?”

S-Suddenly? I felt a little dizzy.

Aya’s house…? After becoming a couple, going to her house for the first time…? My face burned.

“I-Is that okay?”

Aya smiled gently. “Of course. Anytime, Rina.” She took my hand in hers. “So, what do you say?”

My brain, already overheating, felt like it was about to short-circuit. I nodded silently, squeezing her hand. “…Okay.”

And so, I was going to Aya’s house for the first time since we’d become a couple.

****

Arriving at the Yukikawa residence with Aya. Even though it was my second time here, it was still… a mansion. While most Takamari students came from affluent families, Aya’s home was… on a different level, like something out of a fairytale.

‘I’ll never get used to this…’

The grand entrance, the polished marble floors, the ornate chandelier… I cautiously removed my shoes and stepped inside.

“Oh, Aya, you’re home?” A gentle voice called out. I instinctively clenched my hand, hiding the promise ring, and looked up.

It was Aya’s mother.

‘Wow… I’ve only read about her in the novel…!’ She had the same silver hair as Aya, but her eyes were a slightly lighter shade of blue. She wore an elegant silk dress, the epitome of a Northern European noblewoman.

Nervous, I bowed deeply. “Hello…! My name is Kurosawa Rina!”

Aya’s mother tilted her head slightly and replied, in slightly accented Japanese, “Ah, Kurosawa Rina.”

I tensed. Aya’s mother wasn’t fluent in Japanese. While she could hold a basic conversation, her native language was from somewhere in Northern Europe. Sometimes, her sentences were a bit… difficult to understand.

I discreetly hid my ring hand and smiled, trying to appear natural. But…

“Have fun, you two.” And with that, she turned and walked away, her gait elegant and graceful.

‘…Huh?!’ Stunned, I looked at Aya. “Was that… it?”

Aya chuckled. “That’s just how Mom is.”

“A-Ahaha…” At least she hadn’t noticed the ring. That could have been disastrous. I followed Aya, relieved. We’d gone to the living room last time, but this time, we were heading towards Aya’s room…

“Why is your sister’s room on the second floor, and yours is on the first?”

“Ah, well, it just… happened…” Aya’s expression suggested she didn’t want to elaborate, and I didn’t press further, sensing some underlying family dynamic.

We arrived at Aya’s room. It was neat and organized, with a quiet, studious atmosphere: a neatly made bed, a small tea table by the window, bookshelves filled with books, a pristine desk.

‘Wow…’ I stepped inside, still feeling slightly nervous. The room was larger than it had appeared from the outside.

“What do you think?” Aya asked.

I fidgeted with my bag strap. “Your room is big, Aya.”

Aya chuckled. “Is it?” She walked over to the window and opened the curtains, and I followed, my gaze drawn to the view outside.

“Wow… you can see the garden from here?”

“Yes. It’s on the first floor, and the windows are quite large.”

I admired the view for a moment, then turned back to Aya, who was walking towards me. Wait… she was getting closer…

And then I realized I couldn’t retreat any further. My back was against the window, and Aya was standing before me.

“Rina.” Just hearing her say my name made my heart pound.

“Y-Yes…?”

She gently took my hand. Or rather… she pressed her palm against mine, the touch so soft, so gentle, it made me shiver. And then… she didn’t stop there.

“Aya…?”

“We’re… a couple, right?” Her fingers slid between mine, and then… our hands were clasped together.

“…?!” I gasped, my mind going blank.

‘Is this…?’

But it wasn’t a dream, not a simulation. Our hands were intertwined, her fingers laced with mine. And then, her other hand reached out, and our other hands clasped together as well. We were close enough to feel the promise rings on our fingers.

‘Aya… why are you doing this so casually…!’ My face burned, but I didn’t look away, my gaze locked with hers. Aya’s face was calm, but her ears were slightly pink.

“In novels, they say this connects our hearts.”

“…!” I was stunned. Aya, in her innocence, seemed to believe this trope from yuri novels. Having used web novels as an escape from the stress of being a repeat student, I knew exactly what this implied. But Aya, in her purity… didn’t seem to understand.

And that made me even more flustered. My mind went blank, my heart racing.

‘Ugh…!’

Her warm hand, intertwined with mine, sent shivers down my spine. She gently traced the back of my hand with her fingers, the light touch sending a tingling sensation through my body, making me weak in the knees. But I couldn’t move, trapped between her and the window, her grip firm, unwavering. She seemed determined not to let go.

Aya looked at me intently, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Your hands are warm, Rina.”

“U-Ugh—!” I wanted to cover my face, but my hands were trapped. I wanted to escape, but I was completely immobilized.

‘This… I shouldn’t have come to Aya’s house…!’ Frozen in place, I could only endure the rapid beating of my heart under her warm gaze.